Exeter man faces domestic violence charges in Maine

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — An Exeter, N.H., man was indicted on charges he broke into a former girlfriend's residence in South Berwick and assaulted her last June.

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By Deborah McDermott

seacoastonline.com

By Deborah McDermott

Posted Sep. 10, 2013 at 2:00 AM

By Deborah McDermott

Posted Sep. 10, 2013 at 2:00 AM

» Social News

SOUTH BERWICK, Maine — An Exeter, N.H., man was indicted on charges he broke into a former girlfriend's residence in South Berwick and assaulted her last June.

Patrick Davis, 32, 92 Court St., Exeter, was indicted by a York County grand jury on charges of aggravated criminal trespassing, domestic violence stalking, domestic violence assault and criminal trespass. According to police, Davis broke into the apartment of a former girlfriend at 8:30 p.m. on June 21. Police Chief Dana Lajoie said the woman was asleep at the time.

The former couple, who had not been together for some time, began arguing, Lajoie said. He became frustrated, and threw a smoke detector at her, striking her in the back of the head. She then ordered him out of the apartment and he complied, police said.

Lajoie said the injuries were not serious and the woman went to work that night. Once there, she called police in the town where she worked to report the incident. The case was immediately turned over to South Berwick police. Investigating officer Lt. Chris Burbank was not in the office on Friday. Lajoie said he expects the stalking charge arose from the fact that Davis was "obviously following her" prior to breaking into her apartment, which constitutes stalking.

The actual indictment charges "stalk/death/domestic violence." Lajoie said he had no information as to why the grand jury indicted Davis on that charge. There is no indication from the file, he said, that there was any intent to cause death. The woman's only injury was sustained from the thrown smoke detector, he said. Most of the argument was verbal, he said.